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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
 United States
11023 Posts |
I've written before about the design contest held to develop the designs for the 1936 Delaware Tercentenary Half Dollar - here's a link: 1936 Delaware Tercentenary - Design Contest. I'm returning to the topic to present another unsuccessful design. It was the creation of 22-year-old artist Malcolm Gordon Anderson of Port Washington, NY. Anderson was quite accomplished considering his young age, and had won multiple prizes for his work by the time of the contest. He studied primarily in New York City, Connecticut (Yale) and Paris, France. Proposed Design - 1936 Delaware Tercentenary Half Dollar - Malcolm Gordon Andersen (Image Credit: American Numismatic Association, The Numismatist, October 1937. Fair use; education.)Andersen's obverse depicts the Kalmar Nyckel under full sail facing right (typically symbolizing eastward travel). The ship is enclosed in a diamond with "IN GOD" and "WE TRUST" inscribed above the northwest and northeast sides and "Kalmar" and "Nyckel" along the southwest and southeast sides. At the rim is the inscription "1638 - DELAWARE TERCENTENARY - 1938 - HALF DOLLAR". The reverse presents a front view of Old Swedes Church framed by a triangle. The motto "E PLURIBUS UNUM" is, somewhat awkwardly IMO, presented on the three sides of the triangle as "E PLUR-" "IBUS" and "UNUM". Encircling at the rim are the inscriptions "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and "19 - LIBERTY - 36". 1936 Delaware Tercentenary Half Dollar  For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including a number of other stories about the Delaware half dollar, see: Commems Collection. Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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Moderator
United States
157664 Posts |
Very interesting!  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
13258 Posts |
I'm with the Frog on this one. To my eye this is an unattractive design approach.
Take a look at my other hobby ... http://www.jk-dk.artToo many hobbies .... too much work .... not enough time. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
15747 Posts |
Although Andersen's design is a bit "busy", it does have some appeal (at least to me). The accepted reverse by Schmitz of the old Swedish Church at Wilmington is quite plain (read: boring). Adam Pietz's proposed reverse design was much nicer. And I agree with Coinfrog's comment from Commem's "1936 Delaware Tercentenary - Design Contest" article: Quote:
I still think that looks like a big chicken standing on the roof of the church. Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4375 Posts |
The reverse could have been made a bit more interesting had the church be depicted at an angle and surround by a bit of greenery.
Another option could have been to bring the church into the foreground and behind the church place the flags of Sweden and the USA in crossing standards.
Edited by NumisEd
11/07/2023 3:57 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2893 Posts |
Thanks for the presentation of another unsuccessful design, commems. Very interesting!
I've always loved the obverse of the Delaware commemorative, but found the depiction of the church on the reverse somewhat uninspired...
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
 United States
11023 Posts |
Good discussion. I don't think it's all that surprising that Andersen's designs were not the winners of the contest!
Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1500 Posts |
The busyness of the design reminds me of the Roanoke commemorative. I'm in agreement with all that the chosen design for the church seems like the weakest choice.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4375 Posts |
commems, do you know if it would have been possible to select the design for the obverse from one artist and the design for the reverse from another artist? Or does it has to be "all or nothing"?
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
11023 Posts |
Quote:
...do you know if it would have been possible to select the design for the obverse from one artist and the design for the reverse from another artist? Or does it has to be "all or nothing"? The design contest was managed by the Delaware Swedish Tercentenary Commission. From what I've read, it was not the Commission's intent to make a split (Obverse/Reverse) decision; it anticipated awarding the full design project to one artist. That said, I would imagine it could have used its discretion if it believed specific designs from two different artists stood out from the rest. Such a split award might have required a full payment, however, be made to each artist to be fair/acceptable to them. Such an arrangement might not have been in the Commission's budget, and thus effectively prevented it.
Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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Replies: 10 / Views: 500 |
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Posted 11/07/2023 10:13 am
